Irreversible - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: An Angel’s Tenderness (Part 1)

Students soon began returning to the dormitory.

The earlier incident between Su Nanfeng and Gu Xizhou had caused a huge stir, and many students recognized the faces of both Gu Xizhou and Su Zhiyi. Seeing them sitting together for lunch, students from other classes began whispering among themselves.

Gu Xizhou was already restless, and finding the previously empty dorm now filling up made her feel like she was sitting on a bed of needles. She shoveled down the rest of her rice in record time, waited for Su Zhiyi to finish, and snatched up the other’s lunch box. “I’ll wash this for you. I’ll bring the repellent in a bit. See ya.”

Before Su Zhiyi could respond, Gu Xizhou bolted out with the two lunch boxes.

Su Zhiyi stood up to call after her: “Hey—” But Gu Xizhou’s silhouette was already gone.

Ten minutes later, Gu Xizhou arrived back at the Omega dormitory clutching the washed lunch boxes and an unopened bottle of floral water. By now, most of the occupants had returned. Although the classmates had been hesitant to approach Su Zhiyi initially due to Su Nanfeng’s influence, they couldn’t resist her beauty and kind temperament, and she had quickly integrated with the group.

As a result, the roommates were crowded around her, chattering away. Standing at the door, Gu Xizhou watched the swarm of people surrounding Su Zhiyi. Seeing her smiling and talking—looking like a spoiled monarch besieged by a court of girls, Gu Xizhou didn’t know whether to call out or stay silent.

Just then, Zhang Chuchu from her own class arrived at the door with a few companions. Seeing Gu Xizhou peeking in tentatively, she slapped her on the shoulder: “Gu Xizhou!”

Gu Xizhou jumped in fright. Turning around, she met the girl’s bright smile. Zhang Chuchu teased, “What are you doing here? Peeping at the Omega dorm?”

Gu Xizhou’s face instantly turned crimson. Zhang Chuchu narrowed her eyes to admire her flustered state, her sharp eyes catching the bottle of floral water. She rubbed her chin with a grin. “Ah… floral water. Bringing a gift for Su Zhiyi?”

Gu Xizhou nodded and handed the bottle to Zhang Chuchu. She looked up with a sincere face. “It’s not convenient for me to go in. Zhang Chuchu, can you give it to her for me?”

Zhang Chuchu raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Sure thing. Give it here, I’ll take it over.”

“Thanks!”

Gu Xizhou stuffed the items into her hands and turned to run away in a blind panic. As she scrambled down the stairs, she thought she heard Zhang Chuchu shouting at the top of her lungs: “Zhiyi! Your little girlfriend brought you some floral water!”

Hearing this, Gu Xizhou nearly tumbled down the flight of stairs. She gripped the handrail and fled back to the second floor as if a ghost were chasing her.

This small interlude kept Gu Xizhou from sleeping well during the noon break. The area under her Band-Aid seemed to be inflamed—it felt both itchy and painful. She tossed and turned, thinking about Su Zhiyi’s various actions. Su Zhiyi… was being too good to her. Good in a way that felt beyond the ordinary.

0820, as one who had seen it all, understood the little Alpha’s thoughts perfectly. Feeling the complex pulse of her brain waves, the AI mocked her ruthlessly: “You’re overthinking it. All she feels for you is guilt, a desire to make amends, and a momentary sense of pity. She definitely doesn’t mean that.”

Gu Xizhou pursed her lips and hugged her quilt, remaining silent.

0820 decided to provide a bit of analysis: “People like Su Zhiyi seem kind and inclusive to everyone. They can get along with anyone quickly because they have high empathy and rich emotions. They are tolerant and understanding, which allows them to be ‘downwardly compatible.'”

“As a friend, anyone would find it comfortable to be around her. But to pursue her… that is very difficult.”

Very, very difficult. The gentler a person appeared, the more steadfast they often were internally, possessing an incredibly strong sense of control over everything—their body and their heart. Su Zhiyi was exactly like that: gentle and firm, yet possessing exceptionally strict standards for a partner. If she didn’t truly like someone, she would rather have no one at all.

Gu Xizhou’s frantic heartbeat gradually steadied following 0820’s words. Lying on the bed with her eyes closed, she argued, “I didn’t say I wanted to pursue her…”

0820 sneered, going full throttle: “As if I don’t know you adolescent Alphas. Your heads are full of ‘romance’ and ‘partners’… such dirty thoughts. While you’re a student, you’d better focus on your studies and stop thinking about this nonsense. The future is long.”

Gu Xizhou sighed and muttered, “I know, I know…”

0820 wouldn’t stop nagging: “You and Su Zhiyi are not equals, in any sense of the word. If you want to be with her, there is too much work to do. If you truly like her, you’d better focus on improving yourself so you can be worthy of her.”

“Don’t think that just because she might be your wife in the future, she’ll settle for you. If you aren’t excellent enough, she won’t give you a second look.”

Gu Xizhou was momentarily speechless, thinking: 0820, are you here to help me or to crush my spirit?

0820 laughed softly. “I’m helping you, of course. If you don’t become a better version of yourself, what use is a good family or a good wife? Gu Xizhou, your life is yours alone. Live it well first, then talk about anything else.”

Even if her Zhiyi really woke up and still loved her, she wouldn’t choose to date someone while they were both so immature. They should wait until they had each climbed to their respective peaks and were sufficiently outstanding before making any plans.

After 0820’s “soothing,” Gu Xizhou’s fluctuating emotions gradually subsided. However, teenagers love to gossip, and during a break in the afternoon training, Gu Xizhou was teased anyway.

Under the scorching autumn sun, students in thin camouflage uniforms sat scattered on the green grass, taking off their hats to fan themselves. Gu Xizhou pulled a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe the stinging sweat from her face, her eyes half-squinted.

Sitting beside her, Wang Mao studied the Band-Aid on her face with curiosity. “Gu Xizhou, did you put that on at noon? Did you bring it yourself or get it at the infirmary? It’s so cute.”

Gu Xizhou’s hand stopped. From behind her came a girl’s bright laughter: “Zhiyi put it on for her, right?”

“Oh~” Wang Mao said, looking at Gu Xizhou meaningfully. “From Zhiyi~”

The surrounding students all wore subtle expressions, giving Gu Xizhou “I get it” looks. Gu Xizhou felt a mix of shame and annoyance. Unfortunately, Wang Mao loved stirring the pot. She turned toward the back row and shouted, “Su Zhiyi!”

Su Zhiyi looked up, squinting slightly. “Yes?”

Against the light, Wang Mao’s round, apple-like face showed a row of bright white teeth. “Is that Band-Aid on Gu Xizhou’s face from you?”

The eyes of students from nearby classes snapped toward Su Zhiyi, flashing with the light of gossip. Only Gu Xizhou remained with her back to Su Zhiyi, her ears turning a shade of red so deep they looked ready to bleed.

Under everyone’s gaze, Su Zhiyi’s eyes crinkled into a smile. She said with poise, “Yes, I put it on.”

Before the students could start their “Ooooh~” teasing, Su Zhiyi added seriously, “I have cold medicine, throat lozenges, fever reducers… also medicinal oil and alcohol.”

“If any of you get injured like Gu Xizhou, you can come find me.”

A female Beta student shouted boldly, “Does that include the Band-Aid service?”

Su Zhiyi’s eyes curved as she replied gently, “It does. I’ve studied first aid; you can come to me for any minor bumps or bruises.”

She was so open about it—lacking the shyness or hesitation typical of girls her age—that those hoping to see a “show” felt too embarrassed to continue teasing. Everyone laughed it off, and the air was filled with happy chatter. Gu Xizhou wiped her flushed face with her handkerchief, finally letting out a long breath to suppress her thundering heart.

Thank goodness… thank goodness Su Zhiyi didn’t get angry.

Tolerating the heat on her cheeks, Gu Xizhou stole a glance back at Su Zhiyi. Seeing her talking to the students in the front row with a gentle demeanor, a hint of bitterness rose in her heart. 0820 was right; Su Zhiyi was truly a mature person. So mature that she wouldn’t let a trivial joke affect her mood.

As dusk fell, the instructors briefly dismissed the ranks. Gu Xizhou followed the crowd to the cafeteria, dispiritedly grabbed a tray, and found a corner to sit in. At dinner time, the cafeteria was a cacophony of clattering dishes. Gu Xizhou put a piece of spare rib in her mouth, but somehow, it tasted bland.

0820 saw right through her: “Aww… the food doesn’t taste good without someone to keep you company!”

Gu Xizhou muttered stubbornly, “That’s not it!”

A soft voice interjected: “Not what?”

Gu Xizhou snapped her head up. Su Zhiyi had appeared before her, setting down her lunch box and naturally sitting opposite her.

Gu Xizhou’s eyes widened. “How did you…” Why did you come over here?

Su Zhiyi picked up her chopsticks and began moving her extra food into Gu Xizhou’s bowl. “What about me? I was calling you from behind just now, why didn’t you answer?”

“You were dazed. What were you thinking about?”

Gu Xizhou stared at the extra rice in her bowl, incredulous. “No… you…” Why are you giving me food again!

Su Zhiyi pressed the food down into Gu Xizhou’s bowl with her spoon, then looked up with a smile. “I took too much, and I don’t want to waste it. You can finish it, right?”

“Uh… ah…” Gu Xizhou’s brain was foggy as she stammered, “I can.” It was said that a growing teenager could eat their mother out of house and home; she was in the middle of a growth spurt, so she could pack away as much food as was given to her.

Su Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. No waste, then.”

“Let’s eat.”

Gu Xizhou nodded and buried her head in her meal. After two bites, she gathered her courage to look at Su Zhiyi. “Why aren’t you eating with your classmates?” Why did you have to come find me?

The girl, after a day of training, had a pale-pink flush on her fair, translucent skin. She took a bite of a rib, her eyes like crescent moons. “Am I not eating with a classmate right now?”

Gu Xizhou was momentarily silenced. She muttered after a moment, “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Su Zhiyi gnawed on the rib leisurely. “Then what did you mean?”

Gu Xizhou struggled. She bit her lip and said after a pause, “I just think… this is a bit inappropriate.”

Su Zhiyi feigned confusion. “How so?” She had beautiful eyes, like a deer in the forest—innocent and pure, utterly captivating.

Gu Xizhou looked at the girl’s pure face, her brows furrowed in hesitation. “If we always stay together like this, people will talk.”

“Ah,” Su Zhiyi said. She put down her chopsticks and leaned in slightly toward Gu Xizhou, whispering, “Do you mind?”

In the chaotic smells of the cafeteria, the cherry fragrance from the girl overpowered the scent of the food and the various odors of sweat, rushing clearly into Gu Xizhou’s nose. The scent hit her like a drug; Gu Xizhou was completely disoriented. Her mouth opened and closed for a long while before she stammered, “I don’t mind personally… I’m afraid for you…”

Su Zhiyi was curious. “Afraid of what for me?”

Looking at the magnified beauty in front of her, Gu Xizhou’s heart nearly stopped. She lowered her eyes, poking at her rice, and mumbled softly, “Afraid people will misunderstand and think you’re together with me or something…”

Su Zhiyi burst out laughing. “What even…” She leaned back a bit, studying Gu Xizhou with a grin. “It doesn’t matter what others say about such things, since it’s not true anyway.”

“As long as we know it’s not like that, isn’t it fine?”

Su Zhiyi spoke so candidly that Gu Xizhou calmed down slightly. She looked up at her with sincere eyes. “It’s precisely because it’s not true that we shouldn’t let people talk nonsense.” She had already suffered enough from rumors and didn’t want to go through it again.

Su Zhiyi looked down into the dark, bright eyes of the frail girl and, strangely, seemed to understand her thoughts. The two looked at each other in silence. A subtle atmosphere spread, and all the noisy sounds seemed to recede.

But at that moment, a pair of eyes from the distance landed on them. Ten steps away, Su Nanfeng gripped her lunch box with one hand. Watching the two of them staring at each other in the corner as if no one else existed, she squeezed her chopsticks until her knuckles turned white.

Gu Xizhou—

You dead shorty, get away from my sister!

She was fuming. If she had known Gu Xizhou would catch her sister’s attention because of her, she never would have come to this school to deal with this!